It's now official: Mayor Castro is seeking a 3rd term

Julián Castro (at lectern), backed by members of his family, officially announces his intention to seek a third term as mayor of San Antonio.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Castro (left) and his brother, U.S. Rep. Joaquín Castro, D-San Antonio, speak with reporters after the announcement.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Julian Castro (center) along with his wife, Erica, and their daughter, Carina, arrive at a rally to announce his intention to seek a third term as city mayor on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. A crowd gathered in front of the Overland Partners Architects building on Jones Street to hear Castro talk about the city's prosperity and its future with him at the helm. "For those of you who are wondering, I'm not going anywhere," a phrase that Castro has reiterated despite his newly-found notoriety around the nation as an upcoming politician.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Julián Castro shakes hands with supporters at a rally to announce his intention to seek a third term as city mayor on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. A crowd gathered in front of the Overland Partners Architects building on Jones Street to hear Castro talk about the city's prosperity and its future with him at the helm. "For those of you who are wondering, I'm not going anywhere," a phrase that Castro has reiterated despite his newly-found notoriety around the nation as an upcoming politician.

Photo By Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Julián Castro announces his intention to seek a third term as city mayor surrounded by his family on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. A crowd gathered in front of the Overland Partners Architects building on Jones Street to hear Castro talk about the city's prosperity and its future with him at the helm. "For those of you who are wondering, I'm not going anywhere," a phrase that Castro has reiterated despite his newly-found notoriety around the nation as an upcoming politician.

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Surrounded by family, half of the City Council and hundreds of supporters, Julián Castro officially announced his candidacy Saturday for a third term as mayor.

“For those of you who are wondering, I'm not going anywhere,” he said — a wink, of sorts, to speculation in the national media that his recent rise in national politics might prompt him to forgo the mayor's race for higher office. “I love our city. I'm committed to making it a better place.”

Castro has asserted since his election in 2009 that he hopes to be the first mayor since the city relaxed its term limits to serve four consecutive two-year terms. That ambition still stands, he told the rally-goers.

While the mayor didn't offer a signature initiative such as Pre-K 4 SA, which has defined his current term, he said he believes two more years will help him in achieving “a longer-term vision for creating prosperity” in what he frequently referred to as a growing “brainpower city.”

During the last mayoral election, in 2011, Castro trampled four opponents with more than 80 percent of the vote. No viable challengers have yet emerged this cycle.

Supporters, including twin brother and Congressman Joaquín Castro, made frequent reference Saturday to the mayor's rising political capital — pointing to his keynote Democratic National Convention speech in September and multiple television appearances that have followed.

“Throughout the process, Julián has never forgotten where he's coming from,” his brother told the crowd. “He's always had San Antonio in his heart and in his mind. He's the ultimate champion for our city — someone who fundamentally believes in it.”

Castro acknowledged after the speech that the notoriety of his Democratic National Convention appearance has resulted in more invitations out of town.

Appearances have included the United Kingdom, India and multiple trips to Washington, where he'll appear again this week to testify before Congress on immigration reform.

“My focus is on San Antonio,” he said. “I'm very keen on leveraging that demand to benefit the city — putting it on the radar in places where it hasn't been before.”

Castro said he doubts his foray into national politics will politicize the nonpartisan mayoral race along party lines.

“I'm proud that we brought people together in San Antonio — not divided them,” he said. “I love being mayor, because as mayor you can still make a difference. You can still reach across the aisle.”